Electric switch



N. w. NUTT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.29, I919.

1 3 5 1 2 1 4; Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

- .AT ENE! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

Application filed January 29, 1919. Serial No. 273,711.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Norman W. Nn'rr, a citizen of the United States, residing in 'lrenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

in operating electric switches to make or break an electric current it is highly desirable to prevent arcing of the current between the movable connecting member of the switch and the other current-carrying elements with which it is adapted to contact; and to destroy an arc, if formed, as quickly as possible, in order to prevent the burning-out of the switch mechanism and ether possible destructive effects of such an occurrence. it is well known that a sudden atmospheric disturbance in the immediate presence of an electric arc tends to destroy that arc; and it is also known that the formation of such are tends to create an atmospheric disturbance in its presence. It is to utilize these known conditions that my presen t .in \"ention has been produced.

While my invention may be usefully applied in various switch constructions and connections, I have illustrated it in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, as applied to the switch mechanism of an incandescent electric lamp socket; and in said drawings Figure l is a perspective view of the rotative contact member formed in accordance with my in vention; Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of my rotative contact member assembled with the switch-key of a lamp socket; Fig. 3 is a mid-longitudinal section of a lamp socket showing my rotative contact member in the position it assumes when the current is on; and Fig. l is a similar view showing the retative contact member in the position it assumes when the current is off.

Heretofore the switch mechanisms of such lamp sockets have commonly comprised two current-carrying contacts and, intermediate said contacts, a member rotatable by the switch-key, to make and break the current. These rotatable members have been formed so that they prevent to an unnecessary degree the free movement or agitation of the air immediately surrounding them and any are which may be formed between the r0- tatable member and the contacts adjacent to it. To obviate the objections incident to such a construction, I have produced what may be termed a skeleton rotative contact member which I shall now particularly describe.

lVly rotative contact member may be cast or struck up by dies from sheet metal in the form shown by the drawings. Substantially in planes parallel to each other and at right-angles with the body portion 1, are formed the lips 2 and 3 at the ends of the member; and said lips are rounded at their outer ends so as to narrow or reduce the breaking-edges of the lips which are last in contact with the other contact members when the switchkey is turned to shut off the current. At the sides of the body por tion 1 are formed the flanges t and 5 in planes substantially parallel. to each other and at right-angles with the plane of the body portion 1. The flanges and are tapered, as shown, to provide considerable open spaces between the flanges and the lips 2 and 3. A circular opening, 6, is formed in the middle of the body portion 1 to receive the shank 7 of the switch-key 8, and. on said shank 7 are formed oppositely projecting lugs 9 and 10, adapted to contact with the inner sides of the flanges at and 5 and force the member to rotate with the switch-key. The contact 11 is at all times impinging against the rotatable contact member and when said rotatable member has been turned sufficiently to clear its breaking edge from the contact 12 the con tact 11 forces it quickly into a parallel contact with itself, as shown in F a, the lugs 9 and 10 on the shaft of the switch-key not interfering with the final rapid movement of the rotative member toward its final open position.

By this construction of the rotative contact member the side flanges 4 and 5 serve to agitate the air adjacent the contacts when the movable contact member is rotated and the open spaces between the lips 2 and 3 and the side flanges 4 and 5 obviate practically all hindrance to the instant agitation of the air in the immediate presence of the arc to the degree requisite to break the arc.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an electricswitch of the type which includes two current carrying contacts, a rotatable current carrying member having upturned ends to engage the two current carrying contacts and upturned side flanges, and open spaces intermediate said ends and flanges, and means for rotating said member.

2. In an electric switch of the type Which has two current carrying contacts, a rotatable current carrying member having a body portion, upturned ends and upturned flanges all extending tothe same side of the body portion, and a key shank extending through and secured to the body portion, there being spaces between the adjacent edges of the up- 10 turned ends and upturned flanges, whereby upon the rotation of'the rotatable current carrying member in the plane of its body portion an air disturbance will be created 7 NORMAN W. NUTT. I Vitness'es:

JOHN R. D. Bowen, W. I. PEACOCK. 

